Arc cut-out



(No Model.)

C. D. HASKINS.

ARG GUT-OUT.

No. 549,268. j n Patented Nov. 5,1895.

AN DREW BLHANAM. PHOTOUTMQWASHINFI'UN. ILC,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CARYL D. HASKINS, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEV YORK.

ARC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,268, dated November 5, 1895.

Application filed March 6, 1895. Serial No. 540,721. (No model.)

T0 (ZZZ whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, CARYL D. HAsKINs, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in arc cut-outs or switches; and it consists' in the novel features of construction and relative arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described in the specification, clearly illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying one sheet of drawings, in which like characters indicate like parts wherever they occur.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a cut-out made in accordance with my invention, the front of the casing being re-` moved to show the operative parts of the cutout. Fig. 2 is a section through the yoke and pivotal parts, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view of my improved device, showing the position of the parts when the contact-arms iirst engage the terminals of the house-circuit. Figa is a view similar to Fig. 1, the terminals of the house-circuit and the contactarms being shown upon the opposite side of the levers from the position shown in Fig. l.

In cut-outs or switches for electric circuits it is desirable that the cut-outs operate with as little arcing' as possible, and that the movement of the parts to form the connections be as rapid as possible. Further, it is desirable that the cut-out or switch be vof such a character 'that it can be operated with certainty by unskilled workmen, and can be made at a small cost. In addition to these requirements, the cut-out for arc-light circuits should be so constructed that the circuit of the main line will not be broken, connect-ions being established through the house-circuit before the connection is broken between the contact arms or members. All of these ends are attained by means of a cut-out constructed in accordance with my invention, said cut-out being certain in its operation, reducing sparking or arcing to a minimum, and almost entirely eliminating this objectionable feature. Moreover, the cut-out can be made at a fraction of the cost of cut-outs as at present constructed, since the several parts, except the spring, are castings.

Referring to Fig. l, (Z .represents a casing which may be of any desired construction, its purpose being to form a support and protection for the several parts of the cut-out. Mounted in this casing are the usual terminals b of the main line b. Connected to each of these terminals is a powerful spring (Z, made of conducting material. This spring may be, as shown, provided with a coil or it may be a leaf-spring, the essentials of the spring being that it is comparatively powerful and made of conducting material. The other ends of said springs are secured in blocks (Z' of conducting material. The manner of securing these springs to the terminals and to the blocks is immaterial; but for the sake of cheapness I have these parts cast and the ends of the springs brazed in suitable openings in said parts.

(Z3 represent levers made of conducting material and pivotally connected to the blocks (Z by means of bolts (Z2. Formed integral with these levers (Z3 or secured thereto in any desired way are arms (Z4, also of conducting material, and constructed and arranged to engage each other during certain positions of said arms, and to be disengaged from each other and become engaged with the terminals c of the house-line c/ after. the levers have passed the (lead-center which the togglejoint assumes when operated. These contact-arms are arranged to have a rubbing contact with each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and when not in engagement with each other to have a'rubbing contact with the terminals c. The levers (Z3 are mounted upon an insulating-cylinderj, preferably of porcelain. This cylinder is centrally apertured and mounted upon a pin f3, secured to the ends of a yoke f. This yoke fis provided with a rod f and a ring portion f2 for operating said yoke. An insulating-washer f5, preferably of porcelain, is mounted upon the cylinder f4 upon each side of the levers (Z3. These washers, in connection with the cylinder, thoroughly insulate the levers (Z3 from the yoke f.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my IOO improved cut-out embodies the principle of the toggle-lever, the levers whereof carry the contact-arms, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. l. It being desired to connect the house-line with the main line, the operator pulls down upon the handle This downward pull upon the pivot or pin f3 forces the blocks (Z/ apart against the tension of the spring (Z. Then the pivot f3 has passed the dead-center-that is, the point when the pivot j and the bolts (Z2 are in line with each other and just before the arms (Z4 engage the houseterminals-the power stored up in the springs (Z by the blocks (Z', being forced apart, operates to throw the pivot f3 and the parts carried thereby almost instantaneously to the opposite limit of movem ent from that in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. l. During this movement of the levers the arms (Zl rub upon each other and are in engagement until just after these arms have made contact with the terminals c, as shown in Fig. 3. An inspection of said iigure will show the arms (Z1L in contact with the terminals c and also slightly in contact with each other. By having the arms engage with a rubbing contact the contact-surfaces of the arms are kept bright, and by having the arms engage, as shown, the circuit of the main line is not broken in operatin g the cut-out, since the arms (Z1 do not break contact with each other until after they have made contact with the terminals and thus established connection between the main line and the house-circuit. By this construction and arrangement arcing is practically eliminated. By having the spring (Z powerful and made of conducting material the parts will be operated almost instantaneously from the dead-center to the position occupied in making connections with the house-line.

The movement of the blocks (Z' and consequently the strain or fatigue upon the springs (Z is very slight, being only sufficient to permit the pivot f3 to come to its dead-center or in line with the bolts (Z2. Instead of having the connection from the main line to the houseterminals established by a pull, as in Fig. l, the parts may be arranged as shown in Fig. et, in which it is necessary to reverse the operation and push the yoke f and the parts carried therebybeyond the dead-center, when by the force of the spring (Z, as before, the arms (ZL will be thrown into contact with the terminals c of the house-line. The chief difference shown between the arrangement shown in Fig. l and that shown in Fig. 4L is that the arms (Z1L and the terminals c are upon the opposite side of the levers (Z3 from the position shown in Fig. l. The arms (Z'i are shown in full lines in. Fig. l in engagement with each other and out of engagement with the terminals c, while the dotted-line position of the several parts in Fig. 1 shows the arms in en.- gagement with the terminals c and (lisengaged with each other, or the position they would occupy when the main line is connected with the house-line.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have invented a highly efficient and durable form of cut-out, one that can be made at a small cost and one in which the several lrequirements for an efficient cut-out are fully provided for. lVhat little sparking occurs is of such short duration as to be ignored.

Vhile I have shown my invention as particularly arranged for an are circuit, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any particular kind of circuit, since changes required to adapt it to any particular circuit would be obvious to any one skilled in the art. Instead of the terminals c being engaged by contact-arms, as (Zt, manifestly they could be engaged by lever-arms (Z3, or by any contact member carried by said arms.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electrical switch or cut out, house and main line terminals, in combination with a conducting-toggle lever arranged to form a part of the main circuit, contact members upon said toggle lever arranged to have a rubbing contact with each other, and to break contact with each other after they have engaged the house terminals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electrical switch or cut out, house and main line terminals, conducting springs connected to the main line terminals, lever arms constructed as contact members pivoted upon and carried by said springs, and means for operating said levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In an electrical switch or cut-out, terminals, combined with a spring-actuated togglelever, the springs and lever-arms whereof form a part of the main circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 2d day of March, A. D. 1895.

CARYL D. HASKINS. lVitnesses:

E. BATCHELDER, IV. R. WASHBURNE.

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